Signal device for submarine vessels.



Ea B. WALSH.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR SUBMARiNE VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1915.

1 9 1 5&2?? Patented Sept. 14', 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Witnesses WWWQF: I

Witnesses E. B. WALSH. SIGNAL DEE/16E FOR sum/mm. VESSELS.

APPLEWVI'IOM FILEU HZAYZT I915.

Patented @eiot. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

-E. B., WALSH.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR SUBMARINE VESSELS. v APPYFICATION FILED HIM/27,1915. I wmw Patented Sept. 14, 1915;

3 SHEETSSHEET 3/ martian EDWARD It. WALSH, 0h LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR. SUIBMARINE VESSELS.

Application filed May 27, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, EDWARD B. lVALsn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Les hi'igeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Signal Device for Submarine Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to sig nals for submarine vessels, and aims to provide a novel and improved signal device for vessels of that character.

It is the object of the invention to provide a signal device for submarine vessels embodying a buoy carried by the hull of the submarine vessels, and adapted to be re leased whereby it will rise to the surface of the water in the event of a mishap to the vessel, whereby the buoy can be observed, and will act as a signal for help the device including peculiar means for holding and releasing the buoy.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an apparatus of the nature indicated, of a cable or flexible element at tached to the buoy and adapted to be pulled upwardly therewith. means being provided for-regulating or governing the speed at which the buoy rises to the surface of the water, and the vessel being provided with guiding means for said cable which is arranged for the engagement therewith of a grapple or grab hooks to facilitate the raising of the vessel.

A cardinal feature of the invention resides in the provision of a unique signaling means carried by the buoy and adapted to be brought into operation when the buoy rises. so that when the buoy reaches the surface of the water it will more effectively attract attention, in order that the work of rescue may be started as soon as possible.

It is well known that submarine vessels are susceptible to many dangers and accidents, and it is of utmost importance that in the event of a mishap to the vessel, prompt steps should be taken to raise or salvage the vessel in the event that it cannot be made to rise by its crew. Incidents are on record wherein the lives of the crew have been lost through the impossibility of locating the sunken submarine vessel, let alone the fact that the vessel. may also be lost. vVith the present ap ,aratus, a buoy is allowed to rise to the sur ace of the water, should the vessel be injured or impaired, whereby the buoy Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed Sept. Ml, leis.

Serial N0. 30,339.

will-act as a signal, and in order that the vessel may be readily located and then raised.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter desribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a tragu'iental side elevation of a si'ibmarine vessel illustrating the signal device applied thereto and in normal position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the buoy and its holding means. F] g. 3 is a bottom view of the means "for holding and releasing the buoy. Fig. "l: is an enlarged sectional view of the means for paying out the cable attached to the buoy. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the parts depicted in Fig. l. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a grapple in the act of being lowered along the cable to catch hold of the vessel for raising the same.

In the drawings, a tragmental portion of the hull 1 ot the submarine vessel is illustrated, the same embodying the outer and inner shells and 3.

The present mechanism ci'nbodies a hollow buo v l, preferably oli elongated form, and

normally seated in'a tray or pan 5 attachedto the outer shell of the hull. The buoy 4 is normally held upon the hull by the means which will be described presently.

A pair of sleeves Gare engaged through the shells 2 and 3 and through the bottom of the tray or pan 5. and rings 7 are engaged upon the ends of the sleeves (l and bear against the tray 5 and shell 3 for holding the sleeves (3" in place. Fltulling box members 8 are threadedly or otherwise engaged into the end portions of the sleeves (3, and have stufiing boxes 9 containing suitable packing, and glands 10 are fitted in the stutting boxes 9 to compress the packings, and are connected to the rings 7 by bolts or other adjustable elements 11. Rock shafts 12 are journalcd through the stuffing box members 8 and glands 10, the packings preventing the water from flowing into the vessel along the .rock shafts 12, as would of course be dangerous.

The outer ends'of the shafts 12 have enlarged tapered heads 13 provided ,With diametrically opposite threads 14, and

arms 15 are secured to the inner ends of the shafts 12. An actuating or hand lever 16 is the lever 16 is swung properly, the arms 15 will be swung with the arm 19 for rotating the shafts 12 for purpose of releasing the buoy 4. The buoyis provided with means for the engagement of the heads 13 whereby the buoy is firmly held in place.

The buoy 4 is provided with socket portions-21 having restricted necks 22, and the necks 22 are provided with outturncd flanges 23. Nut members 2 4 are secured within the necks 22 and have flanges 25 secured upon Y the flanges 23, and the members 24 are provided. with tapered sockets or recesses 26 having diametrically opposite threads 27 for the engagement ofthe threads 14. The por-' tions 21 accommodate the respective glands I 10 and rings 7, whereby the buoy 4 may normally fit snugly within the tray 5. When the buoy 4 is in normal position, the threads 14 of the heads 13 engage the threads 27 of the members 24, whereby the buoy is firmly held in place upon the hull of the vessel.

The signaling means of the buoy embodies an electric incandescent lamp 28 carried by i a standard 29 attached to-the aft end of the buoy 4, so that the lamp 28 will be prov tected. The lamp 28 is inclosed within a bulb 30, preferably of red glass, to indicate danger. The bulb 30 is preferably of thick material in order to protect the lamp, and

the bulb 30 is inclosed by a cage orgua rd 31. The bulb 30 and cage 31 are carried by the standard 29, and the cage 31 of course protects the bulb 30 as well as the lamp 28. bell'crank switch lever 32 has its elbow fulcrumed in any -suitable manner within the buoy 4, and one arm' of the lever 32 is normally disposed horizontally and projects toward the stern of the vessel. The said arm of the lever 32 carries a weight 33, and the other arm of the lever 32 which normally projects upwardly carries a contact 34. The last mentioned arm of the lever 32 is arranged to engage a contact 35 carried by a standard 36 mounted Within the buoy 4,

' switch for closing an electrical circuit including the lamp 28. The contact 34 is connected by a wire or conductor37 to one pole of a battery or source of electrical energy 38 carried within the buoy 4, and the other pole of the battery 38 is connected by a conductor 39 to one terminal of the lamp 28.

The other terminal of the lamp 28 is connected by a conductor 40 to the contact 35. The conductors 39 and 40 are extended through the standard 29 so as to be insulated from the water.

which the cable 42 passes, and the cable OX-.

tends forwardly from the rollers 44 to a drum or reel 45 upon which the cable is wound.

The drum 45 constitutes a part of the means for paying out the cable, the drum 45 being mounted upon a shaft 46 which is journaled in suitable pedestals 47 secured upon the hull in advance of the guide member 43. The cable 42 is prevented from unwinding too. fast from the reel 45 by means of a paddle wheel carried by the shaft 46, the paddle wheel embodying a hub 48 secured upon the said shaft and having out standing paddles 49. One end of the drum 45 is equipped with a brake drum 50 over which a brake band 51 passes, one end of the brake band 51 being anchored or connected, as at 52, to the respective pedestal 47 The other end of the brake band 51 is connected to the outer end of the extension 53 of a screw 54 which is adapted to be operated from the interior of the vessel, to regulate the speed of the drum or reel 45. The screw 54 is mounted within a sleeve55 which is secured through the shells 2 and 3 of the hull, stufling box members 58 and 00 being threadedly or otherwise engaged within the outer and inner end portions of the sleeve 55. The screw 54 is threaded within the member 60 and the extension 53 of the screw is slidable through the member 58. The members 58 and 60 have the respective stuffing boxes 59 and 61 receiving the respective glands 62 and 64. The glands G2 and 64 are connected by means of bolts or adjustable members 63 and 65 to the respective rings 56 and 57 which are engaged upon the outer and inner ends of the sleeve 55 so as to bear against the shells of the hull. The packings within the stufling boxes and 60 are compressed by the glands 62 and G4 to prevent leakage. A hand lever 66 is secured to 70 The fore end of the buoy'4 is equipped r amass? w the shells of the hull glands 71 being engaged 1n the ends 0 the sleeves to bear against the shells of the hull. The glands 71 are connected to the rings 72 for compressing the packings within the sleeve;l70 to prevent leakage. The inner end of the shaft 69 is connected in any suitable manner to a suitable indicator 7 3, which is operable to indicate the amount of cable paid out, and by observin the speed at which the pointer 74 of the indicator 73 rotates, it is possible to determine the speed at which the buoy rises to the surface, in order that excessive velocity of the buoy can be avoided by operating the lever 66 which is arranged adjacent the indicator 73. The indicator therefore serves as a speedometer.

Normally, the buoy 4: is held within the tray 5 in the manner above indicated, and the cable 42 is wound upon the reel 45, the brake band 51 being preferably loosened to allow the reel to rotate as soon as the buoy is liberated. In the event of an injury to the submarine which renders it desirable to call for aid, one member of the crew swings the lever 16 for releasing the buoy. When the lever 16 is swung, the shaft 12 will be rotated, and the heads 13 being rotated therewith will swing the threads 1.4: thereof out of engagement with the threads 27 of the members 24-, and the buoy will then rise immediately, and will pull the cable 42 upwardly with it. The cable 42 being attached to that end of the buoy opposite the lamp 28 will naturally allow the buoy to assume an upright position with the lamp 28 at the top. During the time that the buoy is rising to the surface, and pulling the cable 42 therewith, the operator pbservcs the indicator 73 to note the speed of the reel 45, which will indicate the velocity at which the buoy is rising, and if the buoy rises with excessive velocity, the rotation of the reel 45 may be retarded by swinging the lever 66 to rotate the screw 5% for the purpose of tight euing the brake band 51 upon the drum 50. The increased friction between the brake band and its drum will retard the movement of the reel and buoy. It is also to be noted that the reel 45 in being rotated due to the unwinding of the cable therefrom, will rotate the paddle wheel, and the paddles 49 in churning the water, will serve to prevent the reel from unwinding with excessive speed. W'hen the buoy 4 assumes an upright position, the position of the bell crank lever 32 will be changed, and the weight being brought uppermost will cause the lever 32 to be overbalanced, and the weight 33 will swing the said lever downwardly within the buoy, so that the respective arm of the lever 32 engages the contact 35. This will close the electrical circuit through the lamp 28 so the sleeves 70, ands. rings 72 being engaged upon the ends of that the said lamp will be lighted. Consequently, when the buoy rises to the surface,

the light will attract attention, it being noted. that the electrical circuit is normally open and is automatically closed when the buoy is released.

When the rescue party comes to the assistance of the vessel, the vessel may be readily located by the buoy, and a grapple or grab hooks may be readily lowered along the cable 42. The grapple or grab hooks 75 may be lowered by a suitable cable 76, and the grapple 75 is arranged to catch hold of the guide member 43 in order .that the vessel may be readily raised.

The present apparatus facilitates the signaling for help, and indicates the position of the vessel, and also facilitates the operation of applying the raising or hoisting apparatus to the vessel. The other advantages and attributes of the invention are thought to be obvious from the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, without further comment being necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoy normally carried thereby and adapted to be released, a reel carried by the exterior of the vessel, a cable Wound upon the reel and attached to the buoy, and a paddle wheel rotatable with the reel to retard the rotation thereof.

2. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoy normally carried thereby and adapted to be released, a reel carried by the exterior of the vessel, and means operable from the interior of the vessel and coiipen able with the reel. for governing the speedof rotation thereof.

8. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoy normally carried thereby and adapted to be released, a reel carried upon the exterior of the vessel, a cable Wound upon the reel and attached to the buoy, a brake drum carried by the reel, a brake band passed over said drum and having one end anchored, and a screw en gaging through the shell of the vessel. and connected to the other end of said brake band.

4. The combination with a submarine vessel, of a buoy normally carried thereby and adapted to be released, a reel carried by the exterior of the vessel, a cable wound upon the reel and connected to the buoy, means engaging through the shell of the vessel and adapted for regulating the velocity of the reel from the interior of the vessel, an indicator within the vessel, and an operative connection between the indicator and reel extending tin-(nigh the shell of the vessel.

In a device of the character described, a buoy adapted to be carried at one position by a vessel and adapted to be released, and a signaling means carried by the buoy and lllO by a vessel and adapted to assume another position when released so as to rise to the surface of the water, a signal lamp carried by the buoy, and means for lighting said lamp when the buoy assumes the second mentioned position. I v

7. In a device of the character described, a buoy adapted to be carried in a horizontal position by a vessel, a cable attached to one end of the buoy, a signal lamp carried by the other end of the buoy, and means Within the buoy and operatively connected to said,

lamp for lighting'the lamp when the buoy assumes an uprightiposition.

8 In a device of the character described, a buoy adapted to be carried in one position by a vessel and adapted to assume another position when the buoy is released, to rise to the surface of the water, an electrical circuit carried by the buoy and including a signal lamp and a normally opened switch adapted to be closed when the buoy assumes the secondmentioned position.

9. In a device of the character described, a buoy adapted to be carried in a horizontal position by a vessel, a cable attached to one end of the buoy, an electrical circuit carried by the buoy and including a signal lamp and a weighted switch, the lamp being car ried by the other end of the buoy, anditlre switch being normally opened and being arranged to'swing to close'd position when the buoy assumes an upright position.

'Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD WALSH.

Witnesses: .NM. J. HANLON, JOHN F. WALSH. 

